NCAA FB

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher says Seminoles working on problems

Jul 21, 2015, 9:06 AM

Florida State’s Roberto Aguayo responds to questions during the ACC NCAA football kickoff in ...

Florida State's Roberto Aguayo responds to questions during the ACC NCAA football kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C., Monday, July 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — With off-field issues overshadowing his program once again, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Tuesday the Seminoles are “stepping up” their process of educating players about domestic violence and other issues.

Speaking during the Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseason media days, Fisher said the program has started a four-step program to address problems and build on character-building exercises that have been part of FSU culture for years.

“It’s like coaching,” Fisher said. “What you learn: don’t take anything for granted. Try to cover as many things from A to Z as you possibly can to educate — don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t do that — to make sure you address every issue out there.

“You wouldn’t think you would have to say (don’t hit a woman), but you do. And we’ll continue to do that and we’ll do it even in a greater force now to educate our guys about not doing it and how to avoid those situations totally. And hopefully they’ll listen.”

Fisher’s comments came after a pair of high-profile allegations.

Running back Dalvin Cook has been suspended from the team indefinitely after it was alleged that he punched a woman outside a Tallahassee bar, which subsequently led to him being charged. That news came not long after freshman quarterback De’Andre Johnson was kicked off the team after video showed him punching a woman in the face in a bar.

“I don’t think what’s happening at Florida State is relative to Florida State,” Fisher said. “It’s happening all over this country. We get more attention of it because of the success of our program and I understand it. That’s part of winning. That’s part of being one of the top programs in America and I accept that responsibility and our players have to accept that responsibility. … But we have to continue to work on the problems we have.”

Johnson was not expected to be a key contributor for the Seminoles in 2015, but Cook is considered one of the top running backs in America. He set a FSU freshman record with 1,008 yards last season on 170 carries, with eight touchdowns.

Fisher said he could not comment on the Cook case specifically until the legal process plays out and facts are revealed, though did say he has not considered dismissing Cook from the team at this point.

“It’s a shame that we had the instance we had,” Fisher said, referring to Johnson. “The young man was a tremendous guy. Never been in trouble in his life, but he made a bad choice.”

Fisher spent roughly the first 20 minutes of his hourlong interview session with print reporters at the ACC Kickoff event answering questions about off-field issues.

He said FSU recently had a five-hour seminar focused on domestic violence, including role-playing exercises.

“We spend over 40 days a year on different, varying things from drugs, alcohol, those things,” Fisher said. “But again, when you see that that’s not enough, you continue to improve and expand what you have for your kids.”

Those incidents follow the Jameis Winston saga, which had the quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy and led FSU to a national championship as a freshman accused by a fellow student of rape. Winston — now a rookie with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — was never charged, but the case continually made national headlines along with Winston being cited in a grocery-store shoplifting incident tied to crab legs.

All the negative attention prompted FSU President John Thrasher to meet with players last week to reiterate that the off-field actions of the team must reflect well upon the university.

Asked about whether the team is banned from going to bars, for example, Fisher said the team has decided as a whole “to keep ourselves out of those positions. They are not going.”

“We’re under a microscope,” FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo said Monday. “That’s what you’re going to get when you come to Florida State. Everything you do is out in the public. It’s unfortunate but we’re learning from our mistakes and just moving on.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

NCAA FB

Head coach Jedd Fisch of the Arizona Wildcats walks the sidelines during the second half of the NCA...

Arizona Sports

Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch accepts Washington Huskies job

Arizona football head coach Jedd Fisch is the new man in charge of the Washington Huskies, the university confirmed Sunday.

2 months ago

Salpointe Catholic defensive end Keona Wilhite announced he is decommitting from Washington and reo...

David Veenstra

Salpointe Catholic defensive end Keona Wilhite decommits from Washington

Salpointe Catholic defensive end Keona Wilhite announced he has decommitted from Washington and reopened his commitment on Sunday.

2 months ago

Centennial edge rusher Noah Carter, a four-star recruit, announced he is decommitting from Washingt...

David Veenstra

Centennial High School 4-star recruit Noah Carter decommits from Washington

Centennial High School's Noah Carter, a four-star recruit and the No. 5 player from Arizona, decommitted from Washington on Saturday.

2 months ago

Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer watches during the first half of the national championship NCAA ...

Associated Press

Alabama set to hire Washington’s Kalen DeBoer to replace Nick Saban as its next football coach

Alabama is expected to hire Kalen DeBoer to replace Nick Saban as its next head coach. DeBoer led Washington to an undefeated regular season.

3 months ago

Head coach Nick Saban...

Associated Press

Alabama’s Nick Saban retiring after winning 7 national championships

Alabama coach Nick Saban is retiring after winning more national championships than any other major college football coach.

3 months ago

J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum spearheaded Michigan's attack which beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl. (P...

Associated Press

Michigan tops Alabama in overtime of Rose Bowl, clinches CFP Final appearance

Behind a Blake Corum touchdown in overtime, Michigan clinched its first appearance in the CFP championship game with a victory over Alabama.

3 months ago

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher says Seminoles working on problems